Wednesday, November 18, 2015

We’re thrilled to be talking to Jack Ironwood from Barbara Pietron's, Soulshifter. It is a pleasure to have him with us today at Pimp That Character!

Thank you for your interview, Jack. Can you tell us your story?

Oh man, so much has happened. How about if I tell you how the whole thing started? First thing you need to know about me is that I'm a soulshifter, which means I can cross worlds. So I'm at school one day and I overhear a girl, who witnessed the abduction of her best friend, describing what took her. Yep, I said what. Because the thing she described is an underworld creature. I instantly knew where her friend had been taken and, having the ability to go to the underworld, I thought I might be able to rescue her. Why would I do that, right? Well, because I belong to a spiritual sect, and I'm in love with a female sect member that is completely out of my league. I figured, if I could prove I was worthy of being a high-ranking sect member, I'd also be a worthy suitor. It seemed like such a good idea at the time...

Can you tell us about one of your most distinguishable features?

My hair. (chuckles) It's pretty freakin' curly.

What would I love the most about you?

I'm steadfast. That's what my sect mentor always says, anyway. If I say I'm going to do something, I do it.

Where do you go when you are angry?

If I just need to cool off, and my brother isn't in our room, I go up and play guitar for a while. If I need to get away, there's this place on the corner of our property—I live kind of out in the country—anyway, there's a creek there. It's a good place to think.

What makes you laugh out loud?

My little brother, Jase. He's a character. We're ten years apart—he's six—and he sees the world so much differently. Some of the things he comes up with totally crack me up. Sometimes I can't laugh out loud though, because he's entirely serious.

What is your most treasured possession?

Mmm, can I say two things? Because they're vastly different. One is my guitar—it's like a trusted friend. The other is a soulshifter's codex. It's a volume of soulshifter accounts and observations that goes back hundreds of years. It's rare, very few soulshifters have them.

What is your idea of a perfect day?

Playing a great gig and then hanging out with a cool girl.

If you could change one physical thing about yourself, what would that be?

You have to ask? The hair. I mean, I don't mind it so much when I can wear it long—it looks pretty rock and roll—but when it's shorter, the curls really spring up.

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Even before I fell in love with a sect elder's daughter, I knew my future would be within the sect. I figured I'd find a way to climb the ladder, so to speak. Of course, if you read the book, you know how that worked out.

If you knew you were going to die tomorrow, what would you do today?

Wow, that hits home! I don't even have to think it over. I'd spend the day with people I love.

About The Book

Title: Soulshifter

Author: Barbara Pietron

Publisher: Scribe Publishing Company

Publication Date: November 24, 2015

Format: Paperback - 290 pages / eBook / PDF

ISBN: 978-0991602124

Genre: YA Urban Fantasy

Book Description:

Sixteen-year-old Jack Ironwood knew exactly what he wanted. Until he got it. Jack was content to stay unnoticed by pretty and popular track star, Natalie Segetich, until her best friend Emma disappears. Natalie swears something took Emma, and though most people write Natalie off as traumatized and confused, Jack is a soulshifter and he knows the human-stealing Enuuki - hell's messengers - are real. As a soulshifter, Jack can cross into the underworld so he sees Emma's rescue as an opportunity to prove himself a valuable member of his transcendental sect - and a way to secure a future otherwise out of his reach. Although he needs Natalie's help to prepare for the mission, Jack intends to go to the underworld alone. But as a viable plan takes shape, it's clear the best chance of success means Natalie must accompany him. On the eve of the quest, when Jack is promised the hand of a respected elder's daughter - a dream come true - he realizes he's no longer sure what he wants. But it's too late to back out, not with the sect and Natalie counting on him. Pursued by the dark lord's henchman and ghastly mutant creatures, Jack and Natalie struggle to come out ahead in a battle and barter for souls. In the end, Jack will have to decide his own fate, because nothing short of a deal with the devil will get all three of them out of hell alive.

Book Excerpt:

Chapter 1

Revelations from the Dark Realm

Feedback shrieked from the electric
guitar amp, annihilating the harmonious blend of drums, bass guitar and
electric piano. Jack winced as he fumbled for the volume knob on his guitar,
pretending he didn’t see Tommy, the lead singer, shoot him a furious glare.
Head down, Jack concentrated on the next few chord progressions, until Tommy
launched into his signature vocal screaming. Then Jack stole a glance to his
left and caught the eye of his best friend, Wes, who skillfully delivered the
pulse of the track on his bass guitar. Wes lifted his eyebrows and Jack
answered with a slight shrug and an apologetic frown.

It was one thing if Jack screwed up
this opportunity for himself, but Wes had talked the band into giving Jack a
chance this summer when they'd lost their lead guitarist to college. Jack
didn't want to embarrass Wes, or give Tommy a reason to give his friend a hard
time. The singer hadn't wanted Wes in the band either, but when the other
members heard Wes play and realized he was a wizard on the bass guitar, Tommy
had been out-voted. It had taken two years for Wes to earn the lead singer's
grudging respect and Jack hated to mess that up.

They finished the set and Jack
ducked out of his guitar strap, leaning the instrument against the cinderblock wall
of Fletch's—the drummer's—basement. He ran both hands through his thick curls,
for the first time thankful that his mom had insisted he get a haircut before
school started. Shoulder-length for most of the summer, his dark brown mane was
now tamed to a mass of loose curls that ended at the base of his jaw—not as
rock and roll, but certainly cooler.

He turned and nearly collided with
Tommy. "What's up with the feedback, Ironwood? We've got a gig in two
days!"

"Sorry, man." Jack shook
his head. He noticed John, the keyboardist, give him and Tommy a wide berth as
he beat a hasty retreat. "Just having an off day. I'm low on sleep."

"Well you better get it
together by Monday. A lot of people come out to the park on Labor Day, and we
don't need you making the rest of us look like amateurs." He spun on his
heel and stomped up the steps before Jack could reply.

Fletch offered Jack a sports drink.
"You've been playing good all summer. Just don't choke when you get on
stage." He laughed, but his eyes were serious.

"Thanks." Jack took the
plastic bottle and cracked the lid open. "I'll be fine. I promise."
He took a long drink, letting the slightly salty, citrusy liquid soothe his dry
tongue and throat before bending to put his guitar into its case.

An intermittent chink of metal on
metal sounded from the base of the stairwell. "Ready?"

Jack glanced up to see Wes tossing
a bundle of keys into the air and then catching them. "Yep." He
noticed that Wes had decided to leave his guitar at Fletch's. They were going
to rehearse again tomorrow, but Jack felt like he ought to go home and get in
some extra practice. He followed his friend out to the minivan, which smelled
like the burgers and fries they'd eaten on the way to rehearsal, and loaded his
gear into the back.

After Jack plopped into the
passenger seat and closed the door, Wes spoke up. "Dude." He drew out
the solitary word and added a sigh, conveying both disappointment and sympathy.

After years in the corporate world, Barbara Pietron found herself with a second chance to decide what she wanted to be when she grew up. Her lifetime love of books and the written word returned one answer: writer. Drawing from her technical writing experience, she began by writing non-fiction magazine pieces and achieved both regional and national publication before trying her hand at her true passion, fiction. In addition to Soulshifter, Barbara is also the author of Thunderstone, Book One of the Legacy in Legend series and a prequel to Thunderstone, Heart of Ice, is available in e-book format. Book Two of the Legacy in Legend series is slated for fall of 2016. You can visit Barbara's website atwww.barbarapietron.com

Monday, November 16, 2015

We’re thrilled to be talking to Rielle Sands from Kimberly
Dean’s, Courting Danger. It is
a pleasure to have her with us today at Pimp That Character!

Thank you for your interview, Rielle.How old are you and what do you do for a living?

I’m 27, and I work as the office manager for Luxxor Limited.It’s a… ahem…
high-end escort service based here in Washington,
D.C.The company caters to the wealthy by matching them with escorts who are
as smart, mannered, and cultured as they are beautiful. But our escorts don’t… you know… Except, well, if the contact
is mutually acceptable. I’m sorry, I really shouldn’t talk about this.

What would I love the most about you?

I’m very loyal to my friends, and I can keep
a secret.

What would I hate the most about you?

I don’t think anyone hates me. I’m too quiet
to hate, but there are things I hate about myself.I let fear take over my life.I’m trying to get stronger and take back
control.I’m trying to be braver, but
people always try to protect me. I’m hate being considered weak.

Where do you go when you are angry?

I’ve been working out at the gym by my
apartment.It’s kind of a dump, but the
guys there don’t think I’m weak.I’m
training in Muay Thai and have put most of them on the floor.JBut I don’t really want to hurt them. I don’t
want to hurt anybody.

What is your greatest fear?

I’m afraid that the past I ran away from will catch up with me.I’m terrified that it might just have.

Are you a loner or do you prefer to surround yourself with
friends?

I’m very careful choosing
friends, but I’d do anything for those who are close to me.I enjoy spending time with them, but I spend
a lot of time alone.

Who is your best friend?

Nina, the president of Luxxor and… cough…
madam.She helped me out when I really
needed it, and I’d do anything for her.

What is your favorite weather?

I love early spring in D.C. when the cherry
blossoms are blooming.It’s beautiful
and peaceful.It’s a time when
everything is coming back to life. It has a sense of freedom about it.

What’s your idea of a perfect meal?

I went out on a blind date of sorts
recently.He took me to a reception at
the White House.It was like a fairy
tale.The chefs served a gourmet meal of
Swedish cuisine.The tablecloth and
napkin linens were blinding white, and the place settings were exquisite. The
dinner plate was trimmed with gold. Afterward, there was music and dancing. It
was the perfect meal, and the perfect evening with a dashing, mysterious man.Too mysterious, it turns out.They tell me I shouldn’t see him again. I
know I shouldn’t, but I’m tempted. When he kissed me, I felt it down to my
toes.

Someone is secretly in love with you.Who is it and how do you feel about
that?

It’s not so secret, is it?I don’t understand why my ex just can’t let
go.Unless… Are you talking about my
blind date?But… Is it getting warm in
here?I don’t even know his name.Do you?

About the Author:

When taking the Myers-Briggs personality
test in high school, Kimberly was rated as an INFJ
(Introverted-Intuitive-Feeling-Judging). This result sent her into a panic,
because there were no career paths recommended for the type. Fortunately, it
turned out to be well-suited to a writing career. Since receiving that dismal
outlook, Kimberly has become an award-winning author of romance and
erotica. She has written for seven publishing houses, both domestic and
international, and has recently focused her efforts on the exciting world of
self-publishing. When not writing, she enjoys movies, sports, traveling, music,
and sunshine. In her mind, a beach, some rock ‘n’ roll, and a good book make
for a perfect day.

Rielle Sands ventured too close to the fire once
and got burned. Now when it comes to men, she’s vowed to play it safe. But then
a dashing, mysterious man shows up at Luxxor Limited after hours, the agency
she manages, needing an escort.

Darien Scott isn’t what he appears to be. Beneath
the sexy smile and wicked charm, he’s hiding secrets. Yet the sizzling
chemistry between him and Rielle is real. He tries to stay away, but his
attraction to her keeps pulling him back. When he discovers that he’s not the
only one haunted by danger, he changes tactics. To protect Rielle, he may need
to stay close. Super close. Exclusive Luxxor contract close.